Ministry of Mines officials and staff have been attending a workshop on due diligence in mineral supply chains from conflict or high-risk areas, in accordance with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guide, since Monday, October 14, 2019.

The Red Room of the Government Hotel in the commune of Gombe is the setting for this workshop. The opening ceremony was presided over by the Minister of Mines, Willy Kitobo. Objective: to make Congolese minerals eligible on the international market.

In his occasional statement, Willy Kitobo reminded the participants that the organization of this workshop is part of the technical capacity building of the Ministry of Mines’ managers and staff.

« … the OECD guide has become the de facto international standard for establishing responsible supply chains for minerals from conflict or high-risk areas, in order to make our minerals eligible for international trade.

At the end of the work, participants will be better equipped to review the annual publication of due diligence reports at the end of each year, in line with the implementation of the OECD guide in the Great Lakes region and in particular in the DRC.

« All acts of anti-values must be banned within the Ministry of Mines. Sanctions will be imposed on all executives and crooked agents, as well as on those who do not comply with the ethical values pronounced by President Félix Tshisekedi and promoted by members of the government. The same will apply to all officials and agents of the Ministry of Mines who must take ownership of it, » said the Minister of Mines.

With regard to due diligence, the OECD guide aims, among other things, to provide practical and detailed guidance and recommendations to mining companies to ensure that their mineral and metal procurement practices do not contribute to human rights violations.

The OECD guide is intended to apply to companies at all stages of the mineral supply chain from conflict or high-risk areas.

Olivier KAMO